Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-05-25
THE GREAT WEST.
THE RUSH OF IMMIGRATION ALMOST UN
PRRCEDENTBD.
Major ]. G. Anderson Tells How People
Are Falling Over Zach Other TO Get
Into Kansas

Major J. c. Anderson, who left for Atehi-
son, Kansas, about two months ago, ar
rived in the city Monday night, having
come through from the East, where he spent
the last three weeks of his absence from
Wheeling. About the latter part OF the
week Mr.. Anderson will again leave for the
West to look after his interests there and
help along the KANSAS boom, which IS
showing exceptional exuberance this spring.
The Major is very enthusiastic over the
outlook in the West, and says this year
will be the greatest ever known, so far as
added wealth and increase in population is
concerned Kansas, he thinks, will add
400, 900 people this summer, and he con-
ours in the opinion of Governor Martin that
in 1890 the State will have n population OF
over three million.
What classes and Dationalities are fill
ing up the State?" asked q reporter who
chatted with the Major.
Statistics gathered last year show that
the largest proportion of immigrants into
Kansas come from Illinois. Indiana comes
next, and then Wisconsin and Minnesota.
These people went west once, but for varl-
Gus reasons-the cold climate of the North,
&c. they have concluded to try Kansas.
Then there is large immigration from the
East, and then comes the German and
Swede immigrants, the very best possible
farming class. They are industrious and
thrifty, and take hold of the new country
| in a business-like way which augnrs well
for their future The way the State is
| filling up Is something wonderful. Coun-
ties which a few years ago had no white
men within their borders now have eight,
ten and twelve thousand population, with
schools, churches, newspapers and every
adjunct of civilization. The Swedes have
inaugurated large college, in which their
native language is taught"
| "HOw about the northwestern corner Of
the State, which, few years ago, was in
drought-stricken condition."
There is no trouble of that kind now.
The settlement of the country has some
how been followed 10y good average rain
fall and the land, with n soil three or
four feet deep, is very productive and in
exhaustible. The stream of settlers seems
interminahle. In st. Louis | asked the
officials in the Union depot AZ TO the desti-
nation of people they handled. and he said
| fully half of them were bound to Kansas.
A good portion, however, are enroute to
California, which is filling up very rapidly.
The boom in that State has reached
tremendous prOpOrtions-Ou of all reason
and there will he big drop one OF
these days"
Isn't there danger of the same thing
happening in Kansas?'
mo, sir; the conditions i'll Kansas are
very different Almost every acre in the
State ~ susceptible OF high cultivation, and
will support an enormous population. II
Kansas was settled Us thickly rs Ohio it
would support 6,0OO,OOO people. If ~
thickly as Massachusetts,, $1,000, 600, and
if as thlckly rs England, 33, 600, 900. Take
even State like ohio; not more than two
thirds of il can be cultivated, and in West
Virginia hardly Onc-iOurth Kansas is all
good farming territory. The country is
gently rolling in its nature, every
ten or twelve miles one strikes creek
with its fringe of trees, while the railroads
are spreading in every direction. Two
new lines are now building 10 Galveston,
while another is coming down from St.
Paul and Minneapolis These give the
State market in all directions, and en-
sure demand for farming products 1t is
interesting to note the effect the settlement
of the Western country has upon vegetable
life and climate. Take Kansas as an ex-
ample. In the Western part of the State,
years ago, nothing would grow but Buffalo
grass; then the prairie grass succeeded, and
now blue grass is pushing that out"
"HOw about fuel?'
"There is no trouble, although this is
the popular belief in the East. Little fuel is
used in the summer, and IN winter cOal,
wood or COrn-cObs are always available"
The Major interpreted his talk with
many interesting anecdotes ana reinforced
it with statistics of all sorts, which We
have not space to reproduce. He has great
faith in the future OF the West as a whole,
and of Kansas in particular, and anyone
talking with him cannot fail but be i'm
pressed with his views.